The latest updated data from the Customs and Special Taxes Department of the Tax Agency and processed by Fepex confirm that the volume of Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports in May increased by 5.7%, exceeding 1.1 million tons.
Vegetables as a whole grew by 12.9%, the highest rate this year, amounting to 440,194 tons. Specifically, in May, exports of cabbages grew strongly with 59,094 tons (+29.5%), lettuce with 54,622 tons (+32.2%), peppers with 42,741 tons (+26.5%), and carrot with 37,753 tons (+36.9%).
Meanwhile, fruit exports grew by 1.5% in May, amounting to 688,437 tons, and recovering a positive sign in 2021. The growth of berry exports stood out. Strawberry exports totaled 56,599 tons (+15.5%), blueberry exports amounted to 26,846 tons (+23.9%), and raspberries exports to 11,442 tons (+15.3%). Meanwhile, stone fruit exports decreased due to adverse weather conditions, with the exception of cherries, which recovered from the sharp drop suffered in 2020.
In value, total fruit and vegetable exports rose to 1,448 million euro in May which, according to Fepex, once again reflects “the strong dependence that the sector as a whole has on foreign markets to maintain its economic and social sustainability, and how improving its competitiveness and eliminating distortions of existing competition in the Community market should be a priority.”
Exports increase but household consumption falls
On the other hand, the consumption of fruit and vegetables in Spanish households in the month of May fell by 16.38% over the same month of 2020. In May 2021, Spanish households consumed 689,510 tons of fruits and vegetables. In May 2020, when confinement in homes resulted in extraordinary levels of consumption, they consumed 824,623 tons.
When compared to May 2019, increased by 1.7%. Consumption of vegetables and potatoes grew by 3.96% and 4.6%, respectively, while fruit consumption remained stable.
According to Fepex, the behavior of the household consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, which had a sharp fall in April and May compared to 2020, reflects the return to normality after the confinement.
Source: financialfood.es / fepex.es
